Apple Tree Double Cascade Card

Oversize greeting card can delivery wishes 

for a "bountiful life", congratulations or 

invitation to an event. 

Back panel holds apple tree with 17 leaf shapes 

and 5 apple, with trunk. At each side, double-fold panels 

accordion forward to provide a self-stand for card. 

Two-part arch banner holds "Fruitful Gatherings" sentiment 

to place at lower portion of tree or across front panels. 

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A back card    B back accent
C truck strip   
D leaves (17 divided from 3 colors)
& apples (6)
E & F right and left side panels with accents
G banner base, accent, word cuts
H leaf placement guide
I waste cut from word cut to use as guide
Not shown: backside circle seal 
(for securing twine - see step 12)

2. Prepare the card back by positioning
and attaching the accent shape on the face
side of base shape with offset margins as shown.
Prepare the banner by layering the accent shape
with offset margin all around.

3. Locate the trunk positioning marks on the base

shape just above the accent edge, and also

at bottom of base card/accent shape.

Position and attach the trunk shape with straight-cut

end even with card base edge.

4. Position the leaf guide over the card assembly,

hold in place with a piece of temp tape,

then position and attach the leaves in the "windows"

using your own placement choices, or .  . 

. . . use the coloration guide provided in the cut file,

as reproduced here.

5. Carefully peel the guide away.

6. Prepare the left and right side panels by

bending the back edge tabs back,

also bending the other perforation lines

in accordion fashion, alternating folding direction

back to front.

7. Position the accent shapes over the first

and third panels on the inside of the side panels

(top shape - showing right panel)

and over the middle panel on the outside

(bottom shape - showing left panel).

This is how the left and right panels should appear

with their accent shapes in place when folded.

8. Position and attach the side panels to the main

card assembly, wrapping the side tabs around

the card back edge.

9. Center the "waste" cutting guide over

the layered banner shape, adjust to best

position, then lightly mark a few places

that will assist with placement of word cuts.

10. Position and attach the word cuts 
following marks.

11. (Optional) Place foam adhesive squares

along the backside of the banner assembly,

then . . . 

. . . position and attach over the card front
on lower panels as shown.

12. To keep the card in "closed" position,

use three of so 18-20" lengths of baker's

twine tied around the card just

above the level of the banner top,

Secure these in place on the card

backside using the circle "seal" shape.

Here is the completed card.

Use the companion envelope design

with coordinated apple seal

to deliver or send this oversize card.

Apple 3D Box with Lid

Apple-shaped box is built as hex-based bottom and lid. 

Dimensional hex stem fits into lid and has 

two-layer shaped leaf that attaches with side tab. 

Accent shapes decorate base and lid. 

Punch holes in base accent panels provide guides 

for darning needle to insert twine through adjacent panels 

as embellishment. Measures approx. 4.25" tall (not including stem) 

x 4.5" wide x 4.25" deep. 

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A Body with tab slot   B Body
C main lid (includes connector tab slot)
D lid shape    E connector tab
F & G top depression shapes
H stem   I leaf and leaf accent
J under-lid hexagon   K under-lid cover
L body bottom hexagon base
M lid top accent
N lid side accents (6)
O body accents (6)

The cut file includes variations for the way that the lid
is held in place on the body.
This is Variation B, and since it is the way the sample
project was prepared, will be the variation described
in this assembly tutorial.
OPTIONAL TWO-TAB CONNECTOR VERSION:
Variation A: cut TWO of the body with the slot,
TWO of the main lid shapes (hexagon "cover"
will be trimmed away from the second lid shape -
see step 15),
and TWO connector tabs.
OPTIONAL NO TAB VERSION:
Variation C: cut TWO body shapes without slot,
ONE of each lid shape (and ignore slot),
and NO tabs.

2. Prepare both body shapes by bending back

all panels and tabs as shown except the top "notched"

inside tab, which is bent forward.

NOTE that one body shape includes the slot
that will accept the connector tab that is
attached to the rim of the lid.

DO NOT bend the narrow "bridge" tab that is next to

the rim panel, which will remain on-plane with the rim

and tuck under the adjacent rim to be glued in place

there, if possible.

3. Overlap one body shape at the adjacent 
body side tab flange, adjust so that cross perforations
line up, and glue in place.

4. Bend the first lower portion of adjacent body panels

inward so that straight edge of one segment

overlaps the neighboring tab to the perf line,

and glue in place.

5. Bend the second portions of panels

inward and complete the tab joint in similar fashion.

6. Repeat steps 4 & 5 all across the body panel

assembly to complete the two tab segment seams.

7. Form the body into a tube to bring the final

edge and opposite flange tab together 

and complete the seam.

8. Bend the segments at lower body

to complete the two short seams.

9. Bend the top panels to the inside of the body,

allowing the "bridge" triangle tab at the side

of the narrow rim panels to be overlapped

by the adjacent panels.

10. Bend each top panel completely inward so that

the bottom notched tab touches the backside

of wall, adjust so that the RIM panel

is perpendicular to the body wall . . .

and glue tab in place.

IF POSSIBLE, place a dab of glue on the "bridge"

tab so it will attach in place.

Apply pressure from the inside to ensure
complete attachment, making sure that
the top panel remains centered as it is
glued in place.

11. Bend the body bottom tabs inward, apply glue

to tabs, then position and secure the bottom

hexagon base in place, with edges lined up

along body panel tab perforation lines.

Place the body assembly on a flat surface,

and apply fingertip pressure along the seams

from the inside.

12. Add some curl to the bottom shaped portion

of the body accent shapes ONLY . . . 

. . . and bend the top flange forward slightly.

13. Apply adhesive to the bottom narrower edge of 

the accent shape, position it flush with

the bottom edge, centered side to side,

and attach.

14. Apply glue to the backside of the top margin
of accent shape, and position at the top of the body
panel, with an offset margin from top edge
equal to the margin of the sides offset,
and glue in place.

The accent will curve gently away from the body 
wall as shown in this image. 
Repeat to position and attach all body accents.

15. Prepare the two lid shapes by

bending back on all panels and edge tabs

as shown.

NOTE that the main shape includes both 

the top hexagon lid as well as the connector

tab slot.

Also NOTE that there is a tiny wedge tab
between wedge panels that IS bend back.

VARIATION A NOTES FOR CONNECTOR TABS: 

To produce 2 lid shapes that EACH have

slots for connector tabs, measure, mark and trim

a tab from the top hexagon (attached) shape

of the second "main" lid shape as illustrated here:

16. Position and attach the two lid "halves"

at the center seam as shown.

17. Bend the upper segment of adjacent lid walls
inward to overlap straight edge at narrow wedge tab
perforation line, and glue in place.
Repeat across the assembly to complete
5 section seams.

18. Position and attach the lid hexagon

accent shape, offset from outer straight edge

and aligned with the hexagon opening.

19. Form the lid into a cup shape to bring the final

side and segment edges and tabs together,

then overlap and join the seams in sequence.

20. Bend the hexagon "lid" into position

with straight edges aligned at tab perf lines,

and glue in place.

To assist with the seam joining, invert the lid
assembly on a flat surface, and apply finger tip
pressure along tab seams from the backside/inside.

21. Prepare the two sections of apple box top

indentation as shown: bend back outer flanges;

bend all other panels and tabs forward on perf lines.

22. Position the smaller shape (includes

the center attached hexagon) so that one of the

mid side straight edges corresponds to

the same mid side segment, overlapping

short straight edge over the adjacent tab,

and join.. Repeat this joining step for the other

side of the smaller shape's tab and corresponding

straight edge to form one unit.

23. Bend the center hexagon down into position
over the inner tabs, and attach in place.

24. Position the indentation shape behind the larger

hexagon opening of the main lid assembly so that

the edge flanges can attach to the undersides

of the hex opening edges . . . 

. . . with the perforation lines lined up with
hex opening straight edges. Attach in position.

25. Prepare the lid bottom edge rim by bending

the first perforation line (at tab) forward, then

bending the rim edge perforation back, as shown.

Repeat all around rim.

26. Insert the connector tab squared end

into the rim slot (or slots if making Variation B)

and adjust to have the perforation lines at

the tab perf line. Glue in place.

27. Apply adhesive in the narrow panel that
will attach behind lid wall . . . 

. . . then apply pressure to attach the narrow
panel to the backside of lid wall.
Edge flange tabs must remain unattached.

28. Bend tab flanges to perpendicular, then

apply glue to top surfaces.

Position the under-lid hexagon shape into

the bottom of the lid . . .

. . . and line up the straight cut edges at the tab perf

lines all around.

NOTE it may be easier to first align and 

attach one edge and flange to help 

hold positioning, then bend hex into place

to align and attach the remaining edges . . . 

. . . using fingertip pressure along tabs

by reaching into the circle opening.

20. Prepare the stem post shape by bending back

on all perforation lines except the bottom tabs

which are bent forward.

31. Form the stem into a tube to bring
the straight side edge to overlap the flange tab
to the perforation line opposite, and glue in place.
32. Push the "lid" tabs inward toward center
then bend the "lid" hex down, tucking the tabs
into the tube, and glue in place.

33. Prepare the insert stem bottom end

into lid opening by compressing the bottom

tabs toward the center, then . . . 

. . . insert end tabs into the lid's recess opening.

On the underside/inside of lid bend the tabs
outward and glue to the inside surface.

34. Prepare side accent shape by bending slightly

at perforation lines, then positioning, offset,

over the side panels of the lid and 

attaching as shown.

35. Position and attach the under-lid cover
over the opening.

36. To test the lid and body connection,

orient the body and lid so that the tab(s)

line up with the slot(s), then gently insert

and slide lid together.

37. Attach the leaf accent onto the leaf base

with center vein cut edges lined up.

Add curl to the center of the leaf (backward curl) . . .

. . . and to the tip of the lead (forward curl)
using a round rod tool such as this pen shaft.

Bend the end tab back.

38. Position and attach end tab along one face

of the stem about half way up.

39. To add the twine ridge bow embellishment,

first use a sharp medium large crewel needle

to poke holes through the body wall where

accent punch holes indicate.

NOTE that the needle should be angled toward

the space between the interior flanges

to avoid poking holes through them.

40. Thread a length of twine onto the needle

and insert through from front, then from

back through the second side hole . . . 

. . . then trim to length and tie the knot and bow.

Add a ribbon bow tied around stem, if desired.

Here is the completed apple box project.